Scripture
…fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honorable.
Philippians 4:8
Pray
Thank You for this day Father-Mother. Thank You for the experiences that today will bring. I know that there will be challenges, misunderstandings, and frustration. But I also know there will be joy, celebration, and laughter. I accept all that comes my way and I know that through these experiences I only get wiser, stronger, and better. I thank You Father.
Today I will be cautious of what I subject my mind to–the content I read as well as the content I watch on television and the Internet. I will be mindful of the gossip and the information that I repeat. If these things aren’t good and don’t deserve praise, then please remind me not to consume and share them. Thank You. In Jesus’ name I humbly pray. Amen.
Reflection
With access to so much news, gossip and drama, we are flooded with both the good and the bad, that we oftentimes don’t realize how toxic our minds have become.
We’re seeking out pain, fear, heartache, gore, humiliation, and negativity. We want to see people fighting, bloodshed, and horror. But have you ever stopped and asked yourself why?
I’m not sure what draws me in to violent films. I’m not sure why I used to love horror movies. Yes, you read that right…
I used to be a HUGE horror film fan. I enjoyed being scared to the point where I could barely sleep at night, or I would have nightmares about the movies that I watched. I got some twisted rush from this. Every October I spent my 31 nights watching all of the horror movies that would be broadcasted on cable tv.
But around 2008 things began to change and I no longer took pleasure in my fear. I couldn’t tolerate watching the movies anymore. They began to rock me to my core and the energy was too much to bear.
What had changed? I had changed.
In 2008 that’s when I started giving up most of my vices, and I began to really get into the Word. I was attending church regularly and I was forwarding my friend Kenya’s daily scriptures by text message. Now, six years later, I can’t even tolerate to watch a trailer for a horror film or a teaser for a tv show that is based on demons and witchcraft. If I can reach the remote in time, I will mute the sound or change the channel until I think it’s off the screen. My body physically can’t handle it anymore. Imagine that. Once a lover of horror, now I’m physically disturbed by the sights and sounds of these productions.
The last two films that I watched (ignorantly convinced by my husband’s friend) were in 2012 and 2013, and both times I kept my eyes closed during large chunks of footage and I prayed during the movies and before I went to bed. My husband (who also can’t handle horror films) laughed at me, but oddly enough both times he woke to nightmares while I slept peacefully.
Once you get closer to God, your core rejects all things that don’t reflect Him. Your essence becomes disturbed by energies not of Him. You physically feel the difference standing in the Light versus standing in darkness. At the same time, you also will find yourself being attacked more by the enemy—more temptation, more chaos and confusion, and more drama.
It takes work and effort to fill your mind with only things that are good and worthy of praise. It’s easier to fill it with junk, because there’s so much to choose from in the world. If you don’t believe me scan through your radio and tv stations, look on social media and see what topics are trending, look at the local and international newspapers.
Look at these ugly so-called “reality shows” that expose and promote the darkness that so many people don’t even realize they carry around like baggage; women and men walking around undignified, lacking class and honor, yet having a sense of entitlement to something great and wondrous.
It’s very easy to get sucked in to the darkness. God gives us the choice to rebuke the darkness or embrace the Light, speak ill of others or lift them up in praise, gossip or squash the rumor, tear down or build up. We all struggle with these things each day. We have choices.
Today what will you choose to do?
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. How many times so far today have you caught yourself being pulled into a negative environment?
4. Consider the number of times that you didn’t realize you were filling your mind of things unworthy of praise; how does that make you feel?
5. What’s the first genre of music that you listen to when you get up in the morning? What’s the first thing that you watch on tv in the morning or when you get home at night?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.(www.Lockman.org)
Scripture taken from the Common English Bible®, CEB® Copyright © 2010, 2011 by Common English Bible.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The “CEB” and “Common English Bible” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Common. English Bible. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Common English Bible.
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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